Angel Investing

Albany Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Serving Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington counties. Since their start in 1984, the expert advisors of the Albany SBDC have worked directly with 23,080 businesses, helping them to invest nearly $400M in the area's economy, and create or save 12,076 jobs. The SBDC provides links and resources to various loan and grant programs within and outside the region.

Visit the SBDC website to see the various resources that are offered through their program.

Capital Region Chamber of Commerce Loan Programs

The Regional Chamber administers a variety of loan programs to help fuel business growth in the Capital Region.

The Al Tech Loan Fund provides financing up to $1M. A fixed rate of interest set at the closing of the Loan (the “Closing”) equal to 75 percent of the prime rate. “Prime rate” means the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal on the closing date, or if no prime rate is published for that date, the Prime Rate published in the most recent edition of The Wall Street Journal publishing a prime rate. In the event that The Wall Street Journal shall no longer publish the prime rate at the time of the closing, interest on the loan shall be calculated by using the base rate, prime rate or other comparable rate quoted by any other comparable institution or money center bank chosen by lender. Financing can be used for acquisition/renovation of owner-occupied commercial real estate, working capital or purchase of fixed assets. Term five years to a maximum of 15 years depending on the use of the loan proceeds.

The Technology Acceleration Fund (TAF) was funded with $1.5 million from the Al Tech Loan Fund. TAF is designed for emerging technology ventures that have a high probability of creating new employment opportunities and increasing the standard of living in the region.

The Micro Loan Program provides financing in amounts from $1,000 to $25,000 at a rate of Wall Street prime plus two percent fixed for the term of the loan. Maximum term is five years.

Empire State Development

New York Ventures meets the critical capital needs of New York State's innovation economy by providing seed and early-stage venture funding to high growth startups as they move from concept to commercialization, through early growth and expansion.

New York Ventures administers the State's innovation investment funds, which provide financial capital to early-stage, technology-based businesses, and include the following:

New York State Innovation Venture Capital Fund: $100 million multi-stage fund